Postal service mail carriers: Salary, career path, job outlook, education and more
Postal service mail carriers deliver mail to homes and businesses in cities, towns, and rural areas. Most travel established routes, delivering and collecting mail. Mail carriers cover their routes by foot, vehicle, or a combination of both. Some mail carriers collect money for postage due. Others, particularly in rural areas, sell postal products, such as stamps and money orders. All mail carriers must be able to answer customers questions about postal regulations and services and, upon request, provide change-of-address cards and other postal forms.
- Education Required
- Most postal service workers have a high school diploma. All applicants must have a good command of English.
- Training Required
- Newly hired postal service workers receive short-term on-the-job training, usually lasting less than 1 month. Those who have a mail route may initially work alongside an experienced carrier.
- Job Outlook
-
The projected percent change in employment from 2016 to 2026: -13% (Decline)
(The average growth rate for all occupations is 7 percent.) - Median pay: How much do Postal Service Workers make?
- $56,790 Annual Salary
- $27.30 per hour
Careers for Postal Service Workers
- Distribution clerks
- Letter carriers
- Letter handlers
- Mail carriers
- Mail clerks
- Mail handlers
- Mail sorters, processors, and processing machine operators
- Postal service clerks
- Postal service mail sorters, processors, and processing machine operators
- Rural letter carriers
- Rural mail carriers
- Window clerks